Apparatus and method for manufacturing glassware



APPARATUS ND METHOD FOR MANUFMCTURING GLASSWARE my 9 wm W. E. SOCK' mzaozs APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GLASSWARE Filed Jan. 9. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ilm/EN T DE- W. E. BUCK HJZQOZQ Wuy W APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GLAsswARE Filed Jan. 9. .1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 yE l El www M 43M, @WLM/L@ @Y W,

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,029 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EMIL BOOK, 0F EAGLE POINT COLONY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO ERIE GLASS COMPANY, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GLASSWARE.

Application filed January 9, 1922.

rllhis invention relates to the manufacture of glassware and particularly to the continuous formation of sheet glass.

The primar object of the invention is the production o contin'uoussheet glass in a rapid, efiicien't and economicalY manner. y

Another object of the invention is the provision of simple and efficient width maintaining means for forming a sheet, which means is operable to -apply a transverse stretching stress to the sheet during a predetermined portion of the formative stage of its movement.

A further object of the invention is the pi'ovision of means for controlling the discharge of molten glass from a source ot supply, which means is adjustable to vary the depth of glass therein with relation to the level of glass in the source of supply or to lower the means in accordance'ivith the lowering of the glass level in the source of glass supply by the discharge of glass thgreti'om.

Further objects and advantages ot the invention will be apparent from the following l detailed description thereof.

While the invention in its broader aspects is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof 1s illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Fig. 1 is a front fragmentary peispective elevation of a furnace and associated apparatus embodying the invention, with parts broken away and with parts removed. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged side and front elevations of a width maintaining unit o f the apparatus with parts broken away. Fig. It is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of one of the sheet gripping chains and attached severing bar. Fig. 5 is a central vertical longitudinal section through` the front portion of a. furnaceand associated apparatus embodying the invention, with parts removed. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the portion of the apparatus from which the glass flows 'in sheet form, with the electrical heated finishing means attached thereto. -Fig. is an enlarged side view of an end portion of one of the electrically heated finishing bars and its manner of mounting, with parts broken away. Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the slab members forming the sheet discharge outlet and equipped with an electrical heating unit., lig. 9 is a frag- Serial No. 527,872.

'ber having communication with a melting tank or furnace from which the supply of molten glass a is received. The tank 1 has an opening 2 in its front, the bottom of which is preferably considerably below the normal flowing level of the glass to maintain a considerable depth of glass therein.

The tank 1 is provided with a front plate 3 rigidly secured thereto, in the present instance, by a set of vertical beams 4 disposed lat the outer side of the plate adjacent to each side edge thereof and held to the tank structure by bolts 5. The plate 3 is of sufficient lwidth to extend a considerable distance beyond each side of the tank opening 2 and in depth extends from the top of the tank 1 a distance below the same, Links 6 connect the bottom portion of the plate 3 to a base plate 7 and assist in supporting the plate in rigid relation to the tank. The plate 3 is provided with an opening 8 (Fig. `5), which in width is coextensive with the width of the tank opening 2 and in depth extends from the bottom of the tank opening to the top edge of the plate.

A gate 9 is suspended in the plate openingr 8 on cables 10 for vertical movements therein, the cables winding on an overhead shaft 11 journaled in bearings 12 rising from the upper end of the plate 3. The shaft at one end is adapted to receive a crank to facilitate turning thereof and is provided with a ratchet-.wheel 13, which engages with a paw] 14 carried by one of the bearings 12 to prevent back turning of the shaft except when the pawl is released from the ratchet-wheel.

The plate 3 is provided at opposite sides of its opening 8 with vertical guides 15, which engage the side edges of a vertically adjustable front plate 16, which extends freni near the top of the plate 3 'to near the bottoni. thereof. The front plate 16 is supported at its bottom near each side edge by a vertical shaft 17, which is pivotally connected at its upper end to the plate and extends therefrom down into a housing 18 carried by the bottom edge portion of the stationary plate 3. Each shaft 17 is thread-` ed through a. worm-wheel 19 mounted in the case 18 and the wheel is in mesh with and driven by a worm 20 on a cross-shaft 2l, which shaft also carries a worm for engag ing the worm-wheel of the other shaft 17. A shaft 22, which may receive its power from any suitable source, has'worm-wheel connection 23 with the shaft 21 to drive the same in either-direction. It is thus evident that a turning of the shaft 21 in one direction or the other will impart raising or lowering adjustment to the shafts 17 and a corresponding adjusting movement to the plate 16.

The plate 16 has an opening 24 in its upper portion in register with and substantially coextensive in width to the frame plate opening 8. rhe bottom of the opening 24 is preferably disposed above the bottom of the opening 8 to maint-ain a desired depth of molten glass a within the openings 2 and 8, as shown.4 The opening 24 terminates at its top below the top of the plate 16 to form a cross-piece 25, which is forwardly offset from the plate 16 and forms a front guide for the gate 9, said gate being of greater thickness than the combined thickness of the plates 3 and 16, as shown in Fig. 5. The portion of the plate 16 which is in advance of the tank opening 2, and which therefore has Contact with the molten glass, preferably comprises a section or part 26 (Fig. 5)w, which is separable from the plate 16 and composed of a metal suitable to withstand the deteriorating chemical action which molten glass has on ordinary metals. The met-al preferably employed for this purpose is nickel chromium alloy, it being found that such metal is highly eiiicient for use in this connection. 1f desired the part 26 or portion of the plate 16 having contact with the molten glassmay be provided with a temperature control chamber 27. 1t is also preferable to provide the edge portion of the frame plate 3, which forms the portion of the wall of thc opening 8 having direct contact with the molten glass, with a similar metal to that of the part 26, as shown at 28 (Fig. 5). This liner member may have a temperature control passage therethrough.

The opening 24 is enclosed at its outer side by a housing 29, forming a spout or forehearth which may constitute a refining or tempering chamber 30, the top of which is closed by a lid or temperature regulating damper 31, which is pivoted to adapt it to be raised any desired extent to permit the escape of highly heated gases from the chamber or to admit cool air thereto from the outside. 32 designates a burner opening, one or more of which is provided in each end of the housing 29. A latch bar 33 pivotally projects from the cross-piece 25 of the plate 16 and has a series of notches 34 in its lower edge for engagement with a catch finger 35 fixed to the forward edge of the lid 31, thereby holding the lid in the desired open position. An arm 36 projects forward from the lid 31 to accessible position in front of the apparatus to facilitate a raising or lowering of the lid.

The housing 29 is fixed to the plate 16 for movements therewith and has its bottom Hush with the bottom of the opening 24 and provided with a narrow discharge slot 37 through which molten glass isA discharged from the tempering chamber in the form of a sheet b. The bottom of such chamber is preferably so disposed with respect to the surface line of the molten' glass in the tank 1 that only a relatively thin stream of glass is permitted to flow therefrom over the chamber bottom, as illustrated in Fig. 5, thereby rendering the glass in the chamber more quickly susceptible to a tempering action. The bottom of the chamber 30 is shown in the present instance as formed of two metallic bottom members 38 and 39, which cooperate to form the slot 37, the lat-- ter member being mounted for adjustment toward and away from the part 38 to permit a variance in the width of the slot, or a complete closing of ther slot when it is desired to-v stop the iiow of glass from the chamber. The movement of the bottom `member 39 is controlled by the turning of a pair of handwheels 40 carried by shafts 41, threaded through bearings 42 and connected at their inner ends to adjacentend portions of the movable bottom member 39. The bearings 42 are fiXed to the lower forward edge portion of the housing 29. It is preferable to secure both bottom members 38 and 39 to the housing 29 by end guides 43 (Fig. 1), which engage end portions of thel bottom members. This permits an adjust-ment of the bottom member 39 toward and away from its companion and permits both bottom members to be easily and quickly removed from the housing for the purpose of substitution or repair. The bottom members 38 and 39 are composed of nickel chromium alloy which will withstand the chemical action of molten glass, and are preferably. hollow to provide for receiving temperature controlling means. ln Fig. 6 the members 38 and 39 are shown as having cooling connection 44, and in Fig. 8 one of the members is shown as having an electric heating element45 disposed therein. The lower interior edge portion of the ends and front side of the housing 29 is preferably lined with metal 46 to a distance above the normal level of the glass in the housing. such metal being of a nature to withstand near its lower edge with a. pair of vertically from the slot 37.

vspaced guide ribs 47 between which a plate y48 may be mounted for longitudinal-adjustment transverse to the discharge slot 37.

vTwo bars 49 are suspended from each plate 48, one being insulatingly connected to a. fixed boss or arm 50 on the plate and the other. or forward bar. being insulatingly fixed to a plate 5l mountedbetween guides 52 on the fa'ee of the plate 48 for longitudinal adjustment relative tliei'eto. The

plate 48 has an adjusting screw 53 projecting from its outer end through a4 threaded boss 54 von the housing 29, and the plate 51 has a screw 55 projecting therefrom through a threaded boss 56 on the plate 48. VA. shaft member 57 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movements inthe lower end of each bar 49 and is connected to the companion bar 49 at the opposite end of the housing 29 by a comparatively thin flexible metallic strip 58. The. strips 58, which are two in number. are disposed at opposite sides of asheet of glass b flowing from the housing slot'l'l and are preferably .downwardly and inwardly inclined to adapt them to have contact at their lowerl edge portions with the respective sides of the sheet. The edges of the stri s which have contact withthe sheet are pre erably sharp or narrow. The strips are intended to he electrically heated to serve eitheras thickness gauging means for the glass sheet or to impart a surface finish to the sheet. For this purpose the strips 58 are of suitable material to offer a high resistance to the passage of an electric current therethrough and also to withstand the chemical action of molten glass thereon, the material preferably used for such purpose being an alloy preferably composed of, nickel chromium or nickel manganese. The sha'fts 57 serve aselectrical conductors for the strips 58, and each has anelectrical conducto'rI lead 59 clamped to its outer end. A coiled ex ansion spring. 60 is lmounted on each sha t 57 'between the `respective lead clamp and the suspending bai' 48, thereby causing a` continual outward pressure to be exerted on the shafts ,57' rel-ativeto their suspending bars 4 9 /so as to maintain the flexible heating strjlps 58 taut and theiredges in true para el relation., It is evident that the plates 48 andthe parts car'-- i'ed thereby, including the heating strips. 58. may be ,applied to4 orI removed as a unit from the housingr 29, depending on whether or not it is desired to gauge orheatfinish the surfaces of thel sheet b after flowing A shaft 61 is carried by and projectsforward from the movable. front plate 16 of thetank a shortdistance below the bottom'. plate of the housing 29 adjacent to each end thereof, and each shaft has a traine 62 suspended therefrom for swinging Amovements toward and away from eachother transversely of the tank. The frame 62 has at itsupper end a pair of spaced yoke arms G3 mounted on the shaft 61, andy has at its lower end a pair of spaced yoke arms 64 iii which a shaft 65 1s journaled in parallel relation to the shaft 6l.

with the members of each set engaged for relative sliding movements, arc disposedat the inner side of each frame 62, theframe members (t'bein'g carried b v the shaft 61, for adjustment longitudinally of the shaft and "transverse to each other, and the frame members 67 being carriedby the shaft 65 for slidingr movements longitudinally thcrcotl The bearing means for cach meiiibei 66 coinprises a bearing sleeve 6 8 slidingly mounted on the shaft 6l and having cross-arms 69 projecting from opposite 'sides thereof, with one fitting in an opening in the member 66 and the other projecting Vinto' a bearing bracket 70 depending from the bottomof an elongated bearing-head 71, provided at the iipper e'iid of' the member 66 and over the shaft 6l.. A shaft 72 is mounted.

one with the other.

Two sets of frame members 66 and 67,

projecting A connecting bar 77, having'a turnbuckle oi' other suitable adjusting feature, is disposed at the outer side of each frame 62 and is connected' at its iipper'end to the respective bea-ring sleeves 68 bya pair of togglearms 78, and is connected at its lower end to. the respective sleeves. 75 by al pair of` toggle-arms 79. The toggle-amis -78 are pivotally mounted at their outer. ends on the outer end studs l69 of thebearl;4v

ing sleeves 68, and the outer ends of the toggle-arms 79 are pivotally mounted on studs 80 project-ing .from the outer sides of the bearing sleeves 75. The studs 804 project outward beyondthe toggles 79 and intodepending'bearing portions at the outer ends of the bracket-s 7 4; Itis evident that a raising of the connecting bar 77 fromits lowered position `shown in F ig. 2, will effect a straightening out of the toggle-arms and a consequent separating 'movement of the bearing sleeves connected thereby and correspending outward movement of the sets-of frame members 66 and 67, and vice versa. An perating handle 79a projects from one of the toggle-arms 79. The lower end of eachframe member 67 5 is provided with an elongated bearing 81 ex- -tending outward from the member transversely of the Shaft 65 and below the same. Each shaft rejects at. one end beyond thev inner side oiP the respective bearing member l 67 and carries asprocket-wheel 83 at such end. Each set of frame members 66 -and 67 has a. sprocket-chain 84 associated therewith and connecting and guided by the upper and lower sprocket wheels 73 and 83 of t-he set,

- with the inner flight of the chain ot' one set of frame members facing and adapted to cooperate wit-h the inner iiight of the chain of the other set ,of frame members to grip the adjacent edge of the sheet L therebetween as such sheet passes down from the discharge slot 37' of the furnace. To facilitate such gripping action the chains are provided at intervals with gripping blocks 85, which are preferablycorrugated or otherwise roughened on their outer orgripping laces. l These Chains are'intended toserve as width' mainvtaining means for the sheet-and may also,

if desired, bemployed `to regulate the speed of flow of the sheet from the discharge slot by supporting vthe sheet so that its `weight Y will not tend to accelerate the flowing action.

The chains 84 are driven from the shafts 82, each of which is provided with a wormwheel 86 in mesh with a d rivc-worm 87 on a drive shaft 88. The shaft 88 has two universally jointed sections, one of which is mounted in housings 89 carried by the bearings 81 and enclosing the gears 86 and 87.

The section ot the shaft 88 which extends through the housings 89 has the worms 87 splined thereon to permit a sliding adjustment of the worms and lhousings thereon without effecting the driving connection between the shaftsland worms. The shaft 88 extends -to any suitable source of power and is intended to be driven at a speed to suit the speed' of movement desired for the sheet gripping chains 84:. A coiled contractile spring 9() connects the two members (37 of adjoining setstand resists a relative outward movement thereof.

' Each yoke frame 62 is provided near its upper and lower ends with sets of horizontal guides 91, which are parallel to the shafts 61 and 65 and have blocks 92 mounted for 1ongitudinal adjustment therein and secured in adjusted position by set screws 93. The blocks 92 of a seti, are Vdisposed at opposite sides .of the connectingbar 77 and each has a bearingboss 91 projecting outward therefromat the respective side of the lbar 77 and adapted to hold a bearing block 95 in engagement with the adjacent side of the bar. These bearing blocks serve to guide the verti- 95 cal movements of the bars '7l and hold the feed chain carrying units in pro' er adjustment axially of t-he shafts 61 an 65. It is evident that each feed chain unit is provided in gripping relation to .each edge portion of a sheet b.

Each framef62 is adapted to be swungshaft 65 ot' eachis adapted to rotate in the yoke arm 64 of the frame and in the bearing sleeves 75 and has a pinion 96 fixed to its inner end portion for mesh with a rack-bar 97 fixed to the movable frontplate 16 ot the furnace and extending outward and upward around the end of the inner yokearm 64. The outer end of the shaft 65 carries a handwheel 98 to facilitate aturning thereof.

It is evident that the two units, which are carried by the movable plate 16 at opposite side edges of a sheet flowing down from the furnace. discharge opening 37, cooperate to;

i'orm width maintaining and feeding means for the sheet and that the units are adjustable relative to each other, both for swinging movements transverse to the sheet and for opposed reciprocatory movements. toward and away from the plate 16, and that the cooperating sheet gripping chains of each unit are relatively adjustable toward and away from each other to suit the thickness ot' a sheet being acted on or for other purposes.

lt it is desired to sever a sheet into seetions as it advances from the`discharge slot 37, suitable attachments may be used in conneetion with the sheet feeding and width maintaining means tor such purpose. Such attachment may include a plate 100 mounted for adjusting movements in vertical guides 101 provided on the inner side of each vframe member (S6 and projecting outward between the guidel flanges 76 of the respective frame member 67 and secured in adjusted position to the member 66 by a setserew 102, or in any other suitable manner. A roller shaft 103connectsy and is journaled at its ends in respective plates 100 carried by the opposed feeding and width maintaining units, there:

by providing two shafts 103,4 one 'at ca ch j To facilitate such adjustment of the frames 62 the lowerils of opposite sides of a sheet and each pr0 7 vided with a roller 101. The rollers 104` are spaced fronrthe sheet b so as not to have surface contact therewith and each is provided with a sheet severing bar'105 which at a ln'edetcrmined point in a revolution of the roll is adaptedto la'p and cooperate with the bar 105 of theo posing roll to sever the sheet as Shown in `ig. 10. The bars 105 are removable from the rolls 104, and when removed the cavities in which their base portions were mounted may be filled with filler-strips 106 (Fig. 11). Each shaft 103 is provided at one endwith a spur-gear 107, which meshes with a companion spur-gear on the other shaft to cause the two shafts to rotate together at uniform speeds. One of the shafts 103 is provided with a bevel gear 108 in mesh with a bevel gear 109 on the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 110. This shaft comprises two telescoped sections in feathered engagement to adapt them for longitudinal adjustment and to cause one to drive the other. The upper section is journaled in a bearing arm 111 projecting from the lower end portion of the associated plate 100, and the other section is journaled in a bearing arm 112 projecting from the lower end of the associated frame member (5T. The lower end of the shaft 110 carries a bevel gear 113 in mesh with a segmental bevel gear 114 on the shaft 82, which latter gear. during a predetermined portion ofeach revolution. engages and imparts rotation to the gear 1.13. The. driving of the rolls 104 from the shaft 82 is so timed that the rolls 10% when driven will be rotated at the speed of movement of the sheet b so that the shear bars 105 of theI rolls` will cause neither a .stretching nor` buckling of the sheet when shearing the same, and the idle period of the gear 114 is of suitable length to cooperate with the toothed portion of such gear to permit the feeding of a predetermined length of the sheet before each severing action. The plates 100 are adjustable longitudinal of the frame member G6 to suit the point below the discharge slot 39 atl which it may be desired to sever the sheet.

Another form of `severing means which is preferably employed consists in mounting several bars 115 (Figs. 4 and 11) at intervals on the chains 81 to operate in pairs on the sheet b to sever the same into sections. A lshallow link 116 (Fig. 3) is substituted for the gripping block link 85 of the chain so that when the end of a bar 115 is placed against the outer side of a link 116 the outer surface of the bar will be in a plane with the gripping surfaces of the blocks 85. Each end of a bar 11,5is secured to the re-l spective link 116 by a screw 118, which projects through a slot: 11S) in the bar and threads into the link 116. The screws 118 have a free sliding fit in the slots 119 so that the screws may move outward or inward with respect to the hars when the bars are traversing either flight of the respective belts when the belts are set on an incline toa vertical or at an angle to the line of drawing of the sheet. The bars 115 serve as combination sheet severingand gripping bars, and for this purpose are provided at their outer sides with a longitudinally extending central severing rib 120 and at the side edge portions of their outer sides with corru ated gripping portions 121. It is thus evident that t-he sheet sections are gripped at their ends entirely across the sheet by the gripping surfaces 121 and held thereby until the sections have passed downward beyond the chains. It is of course understood that the bars '1.15 act in pairs withthe different bars of a pair carried by diderent chains 841 at opposite sides of the sheet Z). If the severing bars 115 are employed the severing bars 105 are removed .from the'rolls 104 and such rolls then act on the bars 115, as such bars pass'between the rolls, to apply a sheet severing pressure on the bars, as shown in F ig. 11. If desired the sheet edge gripping action of the chains 84 may be eliminated when the bars 115 are used.

In the present embodiment of the invention the severing bars 105 of the rolls 104 and the severing ribs 120 of the bars 115` terminate at their ends short of or adjacent to the sheet edge gripping chains 84 thereby leaving a continuous selvage edge along the edges of the sheet which connect the severed body portions of the sheet and are later broken in two in line with the slits formed by the bars 105 or 115. If desired, however, the severing or slitting of the. sheet may he from edge to edge thereof.

It is evident that in the use of an apparatus embodying the invention that the molten glass flows into the housing or tempering chamber 30 and in a properly regulated stream therefrom through the bottom discharge slot 37, the stream forming the sheet b. The thickness of the sheet is regulated by an adjustment of the movable bottom plate 39 which is controlled by a turning of the hand screws 41 and by the depth of glass in the chamber 30. It is apparent that if desired'the slot 37 may form an opening of greater width than the thickness of the sheet and over one edge wall of which the molten glass may flow in a properly regulated stream to form the sheet t). At a short distance below the bottomdischarge slot 37, the edges of the sheet b are gripped between sets of chains 84 which are ,driven at a speed consistent with the speed of flow of the sheet and serve toprevent a sagging in or narrowing of the sheet until it has been sufficiently cooled to maintain its shape.

rl`he chains 84 in addition to serving as width Cfr retarded. The opposing chains 84 are moved inward and outward in opposed relation to engage and release a sheet by a movement of the handles 7 9, which are connected to the lower setof toggle links 79 of each unit and are connected through the bars 77 to the upper toggle links 78, a downward movement of the bars 79a from elevated positions effecting an outward separating movement of the sleeves G8 and 75 of each pair and a consequent separating of the opposed chains 84, While an upward movement of the handles 79a from their lowered positions will effect inward movements of the sleeves of the diiferent pairs and consequent inward sheet engaging movements of the chains. The sheet edge engaging units may be bodily adjusted inward or outward relative to the furnace front by an inward or outward adjustment of the slide plates 92, which hold side bearings in engagement with the bar 77 of the units. This adjustment enables a proper placing of the units to suit the line of flow of a sheet b. If'it is desired to exert a transverse progressive stretching action on a sheetvto increase its width, the sheet edge gripping units are bodily .swung outwardly on .the respective shafts 01 to cause the chains 84 to assume a line of draft which is downwardly and outwardly angled with respect to the center longitudinal line of the sheet. This adjustment is accomplished by turning the shafts 65 to cause pinions 90 to travel inward or outward on the respective racks 97. lf itis desired to take up slack 'in the chains 84 or to lengthen or shorten the same by inserting links therein or removing links therefrom, the frame members 0G and 07 may be slidingly adjusted for such purpose after loosening the set screws 122 (Fig. l), which secure the frame members in adjusted position. As the sheet b Hows down from the slot 37' it may be passed through the electrically heated surface finishing bars 58 which in the present instance are detachably suspended from the ends of the housing 29 and may engage opposite surfaces of the sheet. This heating means may also serve as a thickness gauging means for the sheet if desired. If a substantially constant level of molten glass is maintained in the furnace and rit is desired to vary the depth of molten glass in the tempering chamber 30 the front plate 16, with the different means carried thereby, may be vertically adjusted by transmitting power to the shaft 21 through the shaft 22 and thence to the worm-wheels 19, which are. held against axial movements and are threaded on the rod 17 supporting the plate 16. Should it be desired to discharge the glass from the furnace without continually supplying fresh glass to the same to maintain a substantially constant level of glass in the furnace, the adjusting means for the plate 16 is driven at a speed which is so proportioned with respect to the flowing off speed of the molten glass that the plate and attached parts are lowered at substantially the same speed as the lowering of the glass level in the furnace, thereby maintaining an approximately constant depth of glass in the chamber 30 during the discharging operation. A transverse slotting of the sheet b to' sever it into successive sections of equal length, or to partially sever it, may be accomplished by the opposed sets of severing bars 115, which' are carried in pairs by the chains 84 and pass between and have a severing pressure imparted thereto by the rolls 104; or the severing may be accomplished by coacting severing bars 105 carried by said rolls. The upper and lower edges of the severing bars grip the sheet above and below the point of severing and prevent any tendency kof the sheet to sag intermediate its edges until thelglass has become sufficiently chilled to maintain its shape. The rolls 104 are driven in unison and at a predetermined speed from one of the shafts `82 :ind are vertically adjustable to vary the distance from the discharge slot 37 at which it may be desired to slit or sever the sheet, such adjustment being accomplished by a raising or lowering of the plates 100 carrying the rolls.

lt is apparent that I have provided a glass tempering house from which a stream of' molten glass may flow in sheet form, and associated means for regulating the feeding of the sheet and to maintain the width of the same together with surface finishing means for the sheet, which several parts are vertically adjustable as a unit with respect to the. source of molten glass supply; and also that the units, two in number, areadjustable in various respects to suit the thickness of the sheet, the position of flow of the same from the tempering chamber, and the amount of transverse stretching stress applied to the sheet to maintain its width.

l wish it understoodthat while I have particularly described a particular' combination and arrangement of elements, such com,- bination and arrangement may be varied in numerous respects without departing from the spirit of the claims, and that the arrangement and forms of the elements of the various sub-combinations may also be varied in numerous respects without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. The combination with the outlet opening of a furnace or source of molten glass supply, of a forehearth having a bottom discharge opening for the gravity flow of a stream of molten glass therefrom and adapted to receive glass from said outlet opening, said forehearth being vertically adjustable relative to the outlet opening to varyvthe lll() lll) depth of glass in the forehearth or to compensate for a lowering of the level ofthe glass in the source.

2. The combination with the outlet opening of asource of molten glass supply, of a plate vertically adjustable with respect to the source of supply and having an opening for registering with the outlet opening of the source, and means carried by the plate and forming a tempering chamber at the outer side of the plate opening and into which molten glass flows from the source of supply, said means having an outlet through which glass flows in sheet form from the chamber.

3. The combination with a furnace having an outlet opening, of a plate secured to the outer side of the furnace and vertically adjustable relative thereto, the plate having an opening in communication-With the outlet opening of the furnace, means operable to vertically adjust the plate, and means carried by the plate and forming a tempering chamber-in communication with its opening and into which molten glass flows from the furnace, said means forming a discharge outlet from the chamber from which glass Hows in regulated stream form.

4. In combination, means containing a quantity of molten glass and having an outlet opening for the glass, means in contact with said first means for vertical adjustment and forming an outlet in communication with the first outlet opening and into which molten glass flows from the first means, said second means having a bottom discharge opening for the gravity flow of a sheet of glass therethrough.

5. In combination, a furnace for containing a quantity of molten glass and having an outlet opening, means forming a tempering chamber Without said opening in communication therewith to permit molten glass to flow into the chamber from the furnace, said means being vertically adjustable relative to the furnace to regulate the depth of glass in the chamber and having a bottom discharge slot for the glass together with means to regulate the Width of the slot.

6. In combination, means from which molten glass flows by gravity in sheet form, a-pair of flexible electrically heated bars disposed at opposite sides of the sheet to surface finish the same, means supporting the bars, and means exerting a longitudinali stretching pull on the bars.

7. In combination, means containing a `quantity of molten glass and having an outlet opening, means forming a tempering chamber in communication with the furnace outlet opening and mounted forvertical adjustment to suit the level of the glass in the first means, the bottom of said chamber forming a discharge slot and being adjustable to vary thewidth of the slot'.

8. In combination, a furnace for containing a quantity of molten glass, a housing mounted in embracing relation to. said opening and forming a tempering chamber, said housinglr having a roof for temperature regulating purposes and having a discharge opening in its bottom with a side wallv of said opening adjustable relative to the other to vary the width of the opening, and means for vertically adjusting the housing relative to the furnace.

9. In combination, means forming a chamber having a discharge opening from which molten glass flows by gravity in sheet form, a pair of transversely spaced flexible crossbars of high electrical resistance metal suspended fromA the means below the discharge opening at opposite sides of a sheet flowing therefrom andin surface finishing contact therewith, said bars heilig inclined inwardly and downwardly toward each other and terminating in narrow lower edges, means for exerting a longitudinal tension on the bars, and means connecting said bars in electrical circuit. v

l0. In combination, means forming a chamber from which molten glass flows in sheet form, a pair of electricallyheated bars disposed below said means at opposite sides of a sheet flowing therefrom in contact therewith, suspending means for the bars adjustable to vary the spacing between the bars, the bars having their inner faces downwardly and inwardly inclined and terminating in narrow lower edges.

l1. In combination, means to hold a supply of molten glass, a f0rel-earth for receiving glass from said means and from which a glass sheet is formed, a sheet width controlling means, and means carrying said forehearth and width control means as a unit and adjustable j relative to said first means.

12. In combination, means from which molten glass flows in sheet form, a yoke mounted adjacent to each side edge of the sheet near the sheet flowing source for swinging adjustment transverse to the sheet. two frames carried by each yoke for adjustment toward and awa from each ether at ,an angle to' the swinging axis of the yoke,

means for nnparting adjusting movements to the frames, a set of upper and lower shafts carried by each frame, a sprocket wheel on each shaft, a chain connecting the sprocket wheels of each set and cooperating with the other chain to have prolonged gripping coaction with the adjacent edge of the sheet to serve aswidth maintaining means therefor. and means for driving one of the shafts of each set.

13. In combination, a furnace containing molten glass havingw a discharge opening in its front. a plate mounted for vertical adjustment at the front of thefurnace and having an opening registering with the discharge opening of the furnace, means carried b the plate without its opening and into which glass flows from the furnace and having an outlet through which glass flows in sheet form, separate width maintaining units carried bythe plate at opposite side edges of the sheet and operable to grip the respective edges of the sheet and prevent an inward contracting thereof until the sheet is set, and means for vertically adjusting the plate.

14. In combination, a furnace for molten glass having a discharge outlet in its front, a plate mounted Afor vertical adjustment at the lfront ot' the furnace and having an opening in register with the furnace opening, a housing carried by the plate withoutits opening and forming a tempering chamber for the glass, the housing having an outlet from which the glass tlows in sheet form, a unit carried by the plate at each side edge of the sheet and having chains for prolonged gripping engagement with..the sheet,- each unit being angularly adjustable transverse to the sheet, means for impaiiing predetermined feeding movements to the chains of each unit, and means operable to adjust the plate.

15.' In combination, a furnace for mollen glass having an outlet opening, means forming a chamber in position to receive molten glass from the furnace and having an outlet through which glass flows in sheet form, a pair of sheet edge engaging width maintaining units, one disposed at each side edge of the sheet, and means carrying the lirst means and width maintaining units and operable to vertically adjust the same in unison.k

16. In combination, a furnace having an outlet for inoltenfglass, means forming a chamber into which glass liows from the furnace through its outlet opening and having an outlet through lwhich glass flows in sheet form, a pair of sheet edge engaging width maintaining units, one disposed at each side edge of the sheet, surface finishing means for the sheet, and means carrying said first means, width maintaining units and surface finishing means for vertical adjustment in unison relative to the furnace opening.

17. In coinl'iination, means from which molten glass flows in sheet form, a width controlling unit disposed at each side edge of the sheet and having a pair of sheet edge gripping chains, the chains of each unit being angularly adjustable relative to the line of movement of the sheet and being adjustable relative to each other, means for driving the chains in accordance with the movement of the sheet, and sheet severing bars connecting the chains of different units and operable to periodically cooperate in pairs to transversely slit the sheet, the hars having longitudinal sliding connection with the chains.

18. In combination, means from which molten glass flows in sheet form, a width controlling unit disposed at each side edge of the. sheet and having a pair of sheet edge gripping chains, vthe chains of each unit being angularly adjustable relative to the line of movement of the sheet, means for driving the chains in accordance with the` movement of the sheet, and sheet severing bars connecting the chains of different units and operable to periodically cooperate in pairs to transversely slit the sheet, the bars having longitudinal sliding connection with the chains, and operable to periodically c0- operate yin pairs to transversely slit the sheet and to grip the sheet at opposite sides of a slit foimed thereby.

19. In combination, a tank forcontaining molten glass and having an outlet, vertically adjustable forehearth into which glass flows from the tank through said outlet and having a gravity discharge outlet in its bottom portion, and means operable to lower the forehearth in accordance with the lowering of the level of glass in the tank as it flows therefrom.

20. In combination, a tank for containing.

molten glass, vertically adjustable means forming a discharge outlet from the tank through which the glass flows in sheet form, means operable to lower the irst means in accordance witlithe lowering of the level of glass in the tank as the glass flows therefrom, and means adjustable with the first means and operable toengage and maintain the width of the sheet as it flows from the outlet.

21. In combination, a tank for containing molten glass, vertically adjustable means forming a discharge outlet from the tank through which the glass Hows in sheet form, means operable to lower the outlet means in accordance with a lowering of the level of the glass in the tank as it flows therefrom, and means adjustable with the tirst means for engaging opposite edges of a sheet-flowing from the outlet and operable to exert a transverse streching stress thereto.V

22. In combination, a tank for containing molten glass and having a discharge opening, means forming a chamber and an outlet passage for controlling the iiow of glass in sheet form from the furnace through its opening, means operable to engage the edges ot a sheet flowing from the outlet and maintaining the width thereof, means for surface finishing the sheet, and means operable to raise and lower said three former means relative to the discharge opening of the tank.

Q3. In combination, means from which glass Hows in sheet form, means for gripping and holding the sheet edges during a predetermined length of movement of the sheet and adjustable to cause a transverse stretching tension to be applied to the sheet as it advances in engagement with the gripping means, and means periodically operable to transversely slit the sheet while engaged by the gripping means.

l. In combination, a receptacle for molten glass having a discharge opening, and a :toreheartli having a receiving opening, the glass contacting walls ofthe rcccptacle and foreheaith about the openings being in sliding contact and faced with high heat resisting metal.

25. lin combination, a receptacle tor molten glass having a lateral discharge opening, and a vertically adjustable forehearth having a receiving opening, the glass contacting Walls of the receptacle and torehearth Vabout the openings being in sliding contact and faced with high heat resisting metal.

26. ln combination, a receptacle for molten glass having a lateral discharge opening, a vertically adjustable member over which the glass flows, said member being in sliding contact with the side of said receptacle about said opening and adapted to receive glass through said opening and deliver it in sheet form, the contacting faces ot the glass-containing walls ot the receptacle and delivering member about said opening being faced with high heat resisting metal that may contact molten glass Without discoloring it.

2i'. lin combination, a container for molten glass having a lateral discharge opening, the top of the opening being above the level of the glass, and a horizontal lip member at said opening over which the glass flows under head from the container and in sheet form from such member, said lip inember and container being relatively adpistable in a vertical direction to vary the lieadiiiid thickness of the glass flowing over the inember.

Q8. lln combination, a container for molten' glass having a lateral discharge opening, the top ot the opening being above the level of the glass, and a horizontal lip member at said opening over which the glass flows under head from the container and in sheet forni from such member, said lip member` and containerbeing relatively adjustable in a vertical direction to, vary the head and thickness of the glass dowing over the member, the lip member being of electric resistance material to permit it to be electrically heated by the flow of an electric current therethrough.

29. ln combination, a container `for molten glass having a lateral discharge o ei'iing with its topdisposed above the gasa level in the container, and means at 'respective sheet side.

said opening vertically adjustable to stop or control the quantity of flow of glass from the container and having a portion over and from which the glass `tlows at least partially under head from the container in Nregulated sheet lform, -the` contacting surfaces of said container and means being in sliding contact and faced with high heat resisting metal.

30. In an apparatus of the character described, a container for molten glass having a lateral outlet, a horizontallip member at said opening over which the glass flows under head from the container and in sheet form from such member, said lip member being of chromium alloy adapted to be electrically heated and being vertically adjustable to vary the head of flow ot glass troni the container, and electrically heated sheet thickness gauging means in outwardly spaced relation to said lip member for engagement with a side of the sheet after leaving the lip member, said gauging means having :i member disposed at one side of the sheet and terminating in a thin edge projecting iii the direction of movement of the sheet and having gauging contact with the V31. ln combination, a container for molten glass having a lateral discharge opening. a hollow horizontal lip member in said opening over which the glass Hows under hea-d from the container and in sheet forni from such member, said lip member being of chromium alloy and having" a rounded edge over which the glass flows, and electrical means internally of the lip meniber for heating the same, said lip member and container being relatively adJustable to vary the head and thickness of the glass flowing over the member.

32. In an apparatus of the class described, a container for molten glass having a lateral outlet, spout means at said outlet having a lip over which the glass may flow in sheet form, means for heating the lip so that the glass while in contact therewith will be maintained in an easily flowing state, and means for adjusting the spout means to vary the licad of flow of the glass over the lip.

lln an apparatus of theI character described, a container for molten glass having alateral outlet, a spout means at said outlet vertically adjustableto vary the head of flow of the glass from the container and having an electrically heated nickel chromium alloy lip over which the glass flows from the spout means, and means for adjusting said spoilt means.

lin ltestimony `whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification.

WHJLAM EMIL BUCK. 

